Rory McIlroy vows to learn from Masters collapse after nightmare final round

Rory McIlroy put a brave face on his Masters heartbreak on Sunday night by promising: ‘I will learn character from this and come back a stronger player.’

The 21-year-old Northern Irishman began the final round with a four-stroke lead and was trying to become the second youngest player after Tiger Woods to claim the Green Jacket.

But his inexperience showed as he dropped six calamitous shots to par in three holes from the 10th. South African Charl Schwartzel eventually took the title, with McIlroy tied in 15th after an 80.

Missing: Rory McIlroy never recovered from a bogey on the first and continued to find rough

But the ever-honest youngster said: ‘I thought I did pretty well over the front nine but I just unravelled over those three holes and lost it. My putting deserted me.’

As for the future, he said: ‘When you lead a tournament like the Masters for 63 holes at my age, you’ve got to take the positives out of it. Obviously I’ve a bit of learning to do to win a major and if I can get into another winning position quickly then hopefully I’ll be able to draw from this experience.

‘It’s desperately disappointing and will take a few days to get over this. But a lot of people go through a lot worse than what’s just happened to me.’

Can't look: The Northern Irishman collapsed in a way never before seen at the Masters

At one point after McIlroy’s collapse, 10 players were within two shots of the lead with a handful of holes to play. Englishman Luke Donald chipped in at the last to equal a 10-under-par target set by Tiger Woods, who shot a 67.

It was Ernie Els-prodigy Schwartzel who came through with a brilliant fourbirdie finish to win by two.

‘I gained a lot of inspiration from Louis Oosthuizen’s win at the Open last year. It feels wonderful to win the Green Jacket,’ he said.